Drier



Oct. 23, 1928.

D. H. APPLEGATE, JR

DRIER Filed Oct. 15. '1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 H I I IH n |H I IFHI I HH l l l l lu J11 U6 11 to 1 M a "LL 2' 16 W H WW at Wye LILJ .D. H. APPLEGATE, JR

DRIER Filed Oct. 15. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL H. ArPLEeA'rii, JR, or imnBANK, NEW JERSEY, ssreuon, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO PROGTOB. &'SCHWARTZ, INQ, OF

A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

DRIER.

Application filed October 15, 1926. Serial No. 141,794.

This invention relates to improvements in driers. More particularly it relates to improvements in apparatus for drying or conditioning material in trays, e. g. articles or masses of clay, porcelain or other material, rapidly and uniformly. It is an object to handle the trays through the apparatus in a.

' cycle, so that the drying is progressive groups, each group being a vertical series of through a circuit returning them to the place of beginning.

The invention offers an improvement upon the truck systems and travelling tray systems heretofore known, embodying a compactness and saving of floor space which, it is believed, has been impossible of attainment in any hitherto known structures having corresponding'capacity of output. In so doing, it provides for the drying medium to be used in a cyclic manner according to any approved method, thus saving heat while accomplishing eflicient drying. v

In attaining these objects, and other benefits of the invention, I arrange the trays in trays set in as close proximity to each other vertically as the nature of the workwill permit, the group of trays being handled as a unit; I hangthese groups side by side, close together; I provide two drying compartments, upper and lower, through which the groups travel in succession, horizontally, in opposite directions, moving inward and to the rear straight-a-way through the upper, and then returning to the mouth through the lower, while the drying medium travels horizontally from side to side among the trays. This organization of trays saves vertical space and also provides stability for each hanging group. It saves horizontal space, and by the method of mountlng, hang: ing groups on guided loose shafts, with pro pulsion by simple push, it eliminates the troubles hitherto experienced withbearings and with drying up of lubrication, ncrease of V friction, and breakage of conveyer chains.

And it saves power, and increases therate, perfection and uniformlty of drying by the I delivery of the drying medium edgewise of the trays. The density with which the trays are assembled together also. saves power, making less body and distance of air movementnecessary for the drying of a given number of articles. The invention also pro-' vides convenience of operation by its reception and delivery of tray groups at a single mouth.

Various features of the invention, other than or incidental to the above, include the CO-fiCtlOIl; of lifting and pushingelements for transferring the groups successively to the upper compartment; temporary track ex tenslons and releasing means for, lowering them back to the lower compartment; and propuls on by an oscillating lever.

The propulsion, however, may be by any of varlous convenient mechanical movements; and variations may be made in other respects from the particular mechanism or arrangements which are herein shown as illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

It is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty existin the invention disclosed.

In the accompanyingdrawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation in section through a drier constructed inaccordance with the invention, the section being on line 1.1 in Figure 2, with the fan and its casing removed for clearness;

Figure 2 is an end elevation in section on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan in section on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevation in section on the line 44 of Figure 1; greatly enlarged;

Figure 5 is a plan in section on line 55 of Figure 1, greatly enlarged to'illustrate the manner of mounting the vertical guides and lifting arms;

Figure 6 is a like view in section on line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a plan of a fragment illustratinc the drive mechanism.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 10 sufficient to leave spaces 22, 24, for circulation of the drying air, are vertical partitions 20 which extend from top to bottom of the arti- 7 cle drying space, between which vertical partitions is a horizontal partition 14 at mid- Outside of these- "height, making an upper drying compart---, 'ment or chamber 16 and a-lower drying compartment or chamber 18.

on one side the air current generating compartment 22 has a fan 36; and-the heating compartment 24 on the other has steam heat ing pipes 26. The rotary fan 36 set in a cirer drying compartment 18 are horizontal channel-iron tracks 50, one at each side there-.

of, extending from near the front to near the rear. The upper drying compartment 16 is likewise provided with horizontal tracks 58 mounted near the top thereof; these upper tracks, however, at points spaced from the rear end walls of the housing 10, turn and extend downward to just above thelower tracks 56.

Material carriers 52 are adapted to be suspended from the said tracks in horizontal counterweights 64,

series, each having at its top an axle 54 and double flanged track-engaging wheels 56.

Track lengtheners 60 are provided at the rear end of the horizontal run of the upper tracks 58, ivoted to the upper end of the vertical run 0 said tracks and adapted to operate within slots 62. Each member 60 has a counterweight 64 on the end of its lower arm adapted to hold the track lengtheners normally in the position illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings and out of the vertical passage adjacent to the vertical run ofthe tracks 58, stops 66 being secured to the vertical tracks to limit the downward movement of the said counterweights. When however, the carriers 52 in the upper drying compartment 16 ad vance, moving rearward in this'part of the circuit, in a manner to be described, the leading carriage engages the track-lengtheners 60 turning them upon their pivots against the the said carrier resting upon the said track lengtheners within the said vertical assage.

Crossing t e top of the housing 10 near its forward end is a shaft 68 upon each end of which is fixed a sprocket wheel 70; and over the rear a similar shaft 72 has a similar pair 74, in line with those first mentioned. Trained'over the pair of sprockets at each side of the machineis a sprocket chain 76 the ends of which extend downward at front and rear, within the housing 10 and within vertical guides 78 secured to the end walls of the said housing, reaching down through the vertical extent of the said housing. To the forward end of each chain 76 is attached a carrier lifting fork 80, having small flanged rollers 82 operating within guides 78 to ensure a prescribed path, and having counterweight to hold the chains taut over its respective sprocket wheels. The lifting fork has its lower end 86 pivotally supported on the chain and vertical travel, through has on its upper end a shaft-engaging fork 86 capable of receiving the respective ends of the successive carrier axle shafts 54. These lifting arms, when in lowered position, act as a latch in passing below the carrier they are to pick up, and are held substantially upright beneath the axle of the foremost carrier in the lower drying compartment, by a projecting frame 88 supported from the end wall of the housing 10.

The rear end of each sprocket chain 76 has a lowering hook 90 having the flanged rollers 92 and counterweights 94 operating within the vertical guides 78. These hooks are as a. pair adapted to raise the rear-most carrier in the upper drying compartment slightly from the track lengtheners 60, when the lifting arms 80 are in theirlowest position.

Reciprocating motion is given to the' sprocket wheels 70, 74 and thence to the sprocket chains 76 through the medium of a double throw clutch element 98 slidably mounted upon the motor shaft 46 upon the top of the housing 10, operating direct and cross belt connections for reversin the travel of the sprocket chain. The clutc operating lever 100 lies in the path of lugs 112 on one sprocket chain, one of the said lugs engaging the lever from one side to throw the clutch element into engagement with one pulley and the other lug engaging the lever from the other side to throw theclutch element into engagement with the other pulley, thus causing the sprockets to turn in either clockwise or anti-clockwisedirection according as one or the other of the pulleys is engaged by the clutch element 98.

The guides permit lifting arms 80 to incline rearward when nearing the upper limit of their vertical movement. The completion of the lift thus has a rearward pushing eifect upon all the carriers 52 in the upper drying compartment 16, and it deposits the carrier which it has been lifting upon the tracks 58 at a position one carrier-space rearward from the front. This operation pushes the rearmost carrier upon the track lengtheners 60 and into position to be picked up by the lowering hooks 90 when they approach their upper limit of travel. Arms 80 when being withdrawn, ride on the inclined guide portions 79. The car? riers 52 in the lower drying chamber are moved one carrier-space forward, on each upward movement of the. lifting arms 80 by means of pulling fingers 114 on the ends of horizontal shafts 116 mounted for sliding movement near the .top of the lower drving compartment. The forward end of each shaft 116 is pivotally connected to the lowerv arm of a lever 118, one of wihch is pivotedon each side of the up er drying compartment. The upper arms of these levers lie in the path of the lifting arms 80, and are adapted to be engaged thereby in the end part of their lifting movement thus being turned on their respective pivots and thereby pulling the fingers 114;

- and the carriers 52 in the lower compartment 18 one carrier-space forward. A coil spring 120 on each shaft 116 holds the'fingers 114 normally in rear of the vertical descending passage. Thus it will be seen the carriers 52 are caused to move through the drying compartment 18 thereby placing the foremost carrier therein in position to be raised, and clearing the rear end of the lower compartment for the reception of the next descending carrier.

In operation the rotary fan 36 induces a continuous current of air to circulate through 1 the various compartments; The material to be dried is placed upon'the shelves in the carriers 52 through the doors provided in the front end of the housing 10 and is automatically passed horizontal-1y through one or both drying compartments at any predetermined speed to be regulated by the speed of the motor. 48. The material being acted upon may move through the machine once or more than once according to the result desired. As

illustrated, it maybe understoodxthatmaterial is inserted at the left bottom part of Figure 1 where a series of trays are hungon the carrier 52, whlch at the moment isposltioned at that place, and that it goes through the circuit until it arrives at the same place where this carrier is unloaded and freshly loaded,

the timing for the circuit being harmonized as between the speed of the drive mechanism and the speed of dryingaction, and the needs of the material, so that the drying is completed when the circuit ltas been completed. But the apparatus can be arranged and oper-' ated with double ,capacity by reloading the carriers at each end of the'apparatus, as at the lower left and also at the lower right end in Figiire 1. there being asuitably arranged door at each place.- When'used in this manner the drying'has to be conipleted during one length of travel through the'apparatus, and the timing as regards humidity, circulation and incidental change of the drying medium will be timed according to'methods already known to correspond with time of transit of the articles as controlled by the rate of drive of the mechanism for moving them; but in this case it becomes desirable to have the drying-efiect in the upper and lower compartments equal, notwithstanding that the articles receive in the upper compartment a slightly longer drying than in the lower, because .part of their time in the lower is consumed in exposure during unloading and reloading at eachend of the same compartment. The

- mechanism equalizes this to a degree by. pro-- viding equal carrier periods in the lower and in the upper compartments. Further equalization may be provided, if necessary, by a'rranging the heating coils at the level of the lower compartment as illustrated in-Figure 2 and operating the fanv in such direction that the circulation of air is from the heating coil 'sion of the compartment willper'mit.

through the lower compartment, thus applying the drying medium to that compartment when its humidityis lowest.

The described construction of carriers with their support and method of propulsion permits of verygreat compactness in the arrangement. of trays containing the articles to be dried, making it possible to dry over one hundred per cent more of the commodity in carrier and with the lowest one of the series as far below the carrier as the chosen diniend' n as to the horizontal arrangement it will be obvious that the carriers which push each other along, are arranged in immediate proximity to each other. Both of these possibilities, the horizontal proximity and the large depending load per carrier, follow from the fact that the depending load does nothave to pass up over the axle of a top sprocket supporting the carrier; and that the adjacent vertical lines of trays are not separated from each other by the width or diameter of the sprocket but are in immediate roximityto each other in the horizontal irection. There is a further savm where the trays are arranged in vertical series in a group owing to the nonrepetition of the space between the top tray and the level of the support. The centre of gravity of the load must be fairly low below if there is a shaft crossing the apparatus at the level of the upper support for the carriers all of the trays must go above this shaft. By

, the present nvention there is no suchshaft and thus the train of'trays in vertical'series can be long and will car down the centre of gravity so as to give sta ility even though the top tray isclose under the support or even, -it might be, above it.

I claim as my invention:

- 1. A drier comprising, in combination, a

pair of drying chambers, one above the other;

independent carriers for material to be dried guides for horizontal movement of the carriers through the chambers; means, at the end of travel through one of said chambers, for shifting carriers therefrom to the other of said chambers, and means operableby the car'- riershifting means for moving thecarriers into contact with each other, whereby the carpropelled through the. receiving riers are chamber.

. this support to avoiddanger of tipping; and I 2. A drier comprising, in Combination, a

port the carriers when passing through the chambers means, at the end of travel through the under chamber, for raising a carrier thence to the beginning of travel through the upper chamber; means forming part of the carrier raising means for moving the carriers into abutting contact with each other and longitudinally of the chamber; means at the end of travel through the upper chamber, for lowering a carrier thence to the beginning of travel through the lower chamber, and means operable by the carrier abutting means of the upper chamber for abutting and moving the carriers in the lower chamber.

3. A drier comprising, in combination, a pair of drying chambers, one above the other; carriers for material to be dried; guides for horizontal movement of the carriers through the chambers; means for urging the carriers therethrough; and carrier engaging means at both ends of the pair of chambers, adapted to hold the carriers while in transit betweenchambers; the said urging means including a flexible tie connection between the said engaging means, trained vertically at said ends;

and means-for propelling said flexible tie in opposite directions alternately.'

4. A drier comprising, in combination, a pair ofdrying chambers, one above/the other; carriers for material to be \dried; guides for horizontal movement of the carriers through the chambers; means for urging-the carriers therethrough; lifting arms at one end of the pair of chambers; lowering hooks'at the other end; a flexible connecting tie between said arms and hooks, guided in vertical direction where the arms and hooks respectively are is moved horizontally to a position providing clearance for the rise of the'next succeeding carrier.

6. A drier comprising, in combination, a pair of drying chambers, one above the other; carriers formaterial to be dried; guides for horizontal movement of the carriers through the chambers; and horizontal propulsion means, organized to be applied to the carrier carriers for material to be dried; guides for i horizontal movement of the carriers through the chambers; horizontal propulsion means for the carrier last introduced to each chamber; and operating connection whereby the propulsion means of one of. the two chambers is driven by the propulsion meansof the other said chamber. v,

8. A drier comp-rising, in combination, a pair of drying chambers, one above the other; carriers for material to be dried; guides for horizontal movement of the carriers through attached to it; and means for imparting reciprocating motion to said tie, the lifting arms being positioned to engage a carrier at the end of the lower chamber and lift it to the upper; and the hooks being positioned to engage a carrier at the end of the upper chamber and lower it to the lower.

5. A drier comprising, in combination, a pair of drying chambers, one above the other; carriers formaterial to be dried; guides for horizontal'movement of the carriers through the chambers; arms, and means -to operate them up and down,- at one end of the pair of chambers, said arms being adaptedat their upper ends to engage a carrier and at their under ends being themselves engaged by propulsion means for the lifting; a vertical guide the chambers; horizontal propulsion means for the carrier last introduced to each chamber; and a lever whereby the propulsion means of one chamber drives that of the other.

9.; A drier comprising, in combination, a pair of drying chambers, one above the other; independent carriers for material to be dried; rails for supporting said carriers for horizontal movement through the chambers; a unitary vertical shifting and horizontal propulsion mechanism, arranged to shift a carrier from one chamber to the other and to propel it therein along said rails a space equal to its own width.

10. A drier compr sing, in combination, a

pair of drying chambers one above the other; independent carriers for material to be dried; guide rails in the chambers from which the carriers are suspended and mechanism for shifting a carrier from the end of each chamber to the beginning of-the other chamber, and for propelling the carriers step bystep all together in both chambers; said mechanism' being organized to effect said shifting in the initial part of each step and then to propel only after the shifting-has been so far advancedthat the shifted carrier has left a clear space for the carrier which is'to be propelled to the position from which it is be-' ing shifted. v

11. A drier comprising, in combination, a pair of drying chambers, one above the other; carriers for material to be dried; guides for horizontal movement of the carriers through the chambers; mechanism for shifting simultaneousl the carrier at the end of each chamber vertically to the beginning of the other chamber; and mechanism for propelling all of the carriers inboth chambers one step horizontally before the next vertical shift occurs, all the said carriers being loose on their said guides, and the said propelling mechanism being applied to all carriers in each chamber through the single carriers at the beginning thereof.

12. A drier comprising, in combination, a pair of drying chambers, one above the other; carriers for material to be dried; guides for horizontal movement of the carriers through the chambers; and means for moving the carriers through the chambers, comprising a reciprocating element adapted on its stroke in one directionto engage and raise the carrier which is in end positlon of one'chamber, to the beginning position of the other chamber; there being means whereby the carrier in end position of the second chamber descends to the beginning position of the first chamber; and guides whereby in a later part of its same said stroke the reciprocating element propels the carriers horizontally in their chamber.

13. A drier comprising, in combination, a pair of drying chambers, one above the other; carriers for material to be dried;

guides for horizontal movement of the can riers through the chambers; achain reciprocating endwise and trained in a course passing the carrier which is in end position in each chamber; means thereon to engage and conveyeach such carrier to the beginning position in the other chamber during its stroke in one direction; and means whereby the chain, in a later portion of the same stroke, propels each such carrier in its new chamber; all of the other carriers therein being loose and propelled thereby; the said chain upon its stroke in the other direction returning to osition to repeat the said action.

14. drier comprising, in combination, a pair of drying chambers, one above the other; carriersfor material to be dried; guides for horizontal movement of the carriers through the chambers; means for shifting the carriers singly from each chamber to the other; and a finger at the back of the lower chamber, havin intermittent horizontal reciprocating drlve, adapted on its backward movement, to-

ass back of the osition at which carriersare introduced to t elower chamber and arranged on' its forward movement to engage thesaid last carrier, thus to propel through the chamber all carriers which are therein.

15. A drier comprising, in combination, a pair of drying chamber, one above the other; carriers for material to be dried; guides for horizontal movement of the carriers through the chambers; lifting arms for the carrier at one end of the lower chamber; fingers adapted to engage back of the carrier last introduced to the othervend of.lower chamber;

and a lever, for moving said fingers forward, actuated by said lifting arms at the end of their upward stroke.

16. Adrier comprlsing, in combination, a,

pair of drying chambers, one above theother; carriers for material to be dried; guides for horizontal movement of the carriers through the chambers; a movable extension for the upper guide in position tobe pushed out by an advancing carrier so as to support a carrier beyond the end of said guide; means withdrawing the extension when relieved of a carrier; and means for liftinga carrier from vupper guide; and adapted to return to its original position when free; and means for lifting a carrler from sald extension preliminar to lowering it from the upper to the lower c amber.

18. A drier comprising, in combination, a

pair of dryingchambers, one above the other; carriers formaterial to be dried; guides for horizontal movement of the carriers through the chambers; a removable extension for the upper guide, normally in removed position ready to be pushed out by an advancing carrier so as to support a carrier beyond the end of said guide; means withdrawing the extension when relieved of a carrier; and vertically reciprocating hooks for engaging and lowering a carrier from said extension; there being over-travel upward of said hooks past said extension, for lifting a carrier therefrom to permit withdrawal of said extension preliminary to the said lowering of the carrier therefrom.

19. A drier comprising in combination a pair of drying chambers, one above the other; a circuit comprising tracks having a horizontal run in each said chamber, and passages between adjacent ends of the tracks; carriers, loosely mounted on said tracks pushed h each other in opposite directions through t e respective. chambers; and moving carrier holders for shifting the carriers from one to the other of said horizontal runs of the tracks. a

20. A drier comprising in combination a pair of drying chambers, one above the other; carriers for material tobe dried, each consuspended trays; tracks for horizontal movement of the carriers through the chambers;

a sisting of an axle, track-engaging wheels and pair of drying chambers, one above the other; T

and means, at the end of travel through one of said chambers, for shifting carriers therefrom to the otherof said chambers.

21. A drier comprising in combination, a pair of drying chambers, one above the other; carriers for material to be dried, each consisting of an axle, track-engaging wheels and suspended trays; tracks for horizontal movement of-the carriers through the chambers; and lifting forks at one end of the chambers adapted to, at intervals of time, en-' gage under the axle of a carrier in the lower chamber and transfer that carrier to the upper chamber.

' 22. A drier comprising in combination, a pair of drying chambers, one above the other; carriers for material to be dried; guides for horizontal movement of the carriers through the chambers; means for urging the carriers therethrough lifting arms at one end of the pair of chambers; lowering hooks at the other end; a flexible connecting tie between said arms and hooks, guided in vertical direction where the arms. and hooks respectively are attached to it; and means for imparting reciprocating motion to said tie, the whole being organized for simultaneous lifting and lowering of carriers at opposite ends of said chambers, whereby the load that is being shifted at one end is balanced by the load that is being shifted at the other end.

(t 23. A drier comprising, in combination, a pair of drying chambers, one above the other; carriers for material to be dried, each consisting of an axle, track-engaging wheels and suspended trays; tracks for horizontal movement of the carriers through the chambers; andvertically reciprocating lifting arms at one end of said chambers said arms constitut-' ing latches adapted, on their down stroke, to slip past a carrier waiting in the lower chamber, and adapted, on their up stroke, to engage under the axle thereof to lift said carrier to the upper chamber. a

24. A drier, comprislng in combination, a

carriers for material to be dried; guides for horizontal movement of the carriers through the chambers; a flexible tie positioned with its end portions guided in vertical courses at opposite ends of said chambers; means for reciprocating'said tie endwise along its position; lowering hooks at one end of said tie, and lifting arms pivoted at the other end thereof; said arms being adapted, upon movement of the tie, to engage a carrier at the-end of the lower chamber, lift it and propel it along the guides in the upper chamber; and said hooks being adapted simultaneously therewith to lower a carrier from the upper to the lower chamber, these hooks having over travel downward during said propelling motion of the said arms.

25. A drier, comprising in combination, a pair of drying chambers, one above the other; carriers for material to be dried; guides for horizontal movement of the carriers through the chambers; lifting arms at one end of said chambers; means connected thereto for moving them in vertical direction; and reversing mechanism for periodically changing the direction of travel of said arms, the whole being organized for said arms to engage a carrier on the guides in the lower chamber, raise. it to the level of the guides in the upper cham- 7 her and there to propel it a predetermined distance along said upper guides, whereby-its thereby move the entire row of carriers along 7 its said guides; and means to add a fresh carrier periodically to each row in front of it's said reciprocating mechanism.

Signed at Red Bank, New Jersey, this 12th day of July, 1926.

DANIEL H. APPLEGATE, in. 

